Völner-Schadl affair: Investigation allegedly stopped under pressure from above
According to 444, former chief prosecutor Pál Fürcht recounted how attempts were made to halt the Völner case from above. Judit Varga addressed several issues before the committee and denied Rogán's involvement.
Message from above: stop investigating the Völner case
Two former officials spoke before the parliamentary committee investigating the Völner-Schadl affair on Monday, reports 444.
Pál Fürcht, the former chief prosecutor, said that during proceedings against Pál Völner he received a message that the investigation should be halted. The instruction came from above, though he provided no details publicly. Fürcht also advised the current leadership of the prosecutor's office to reconsider what they did wrong. He also stated that he would confirm under a lie detector test that Antal Rogán and his circle had removed nothing from the case files.
Former Justice Minister Judit Varga also appeared before the committee. During her questioning, she raised numerous issues – including wiretapping, unpaid maintenance, Operation Spring Breeze and the phrase "Hungarian Péter's hell" – whilst being questioned about the Völner-Schadl affair. She is also demanding an apology from journalists.
At the committee session, before the agenda, the leaders of opposition parties and Magyar Péter also spoke. They debated the former prime minister's nephew, Sándor Lezsák who was wrongly listed in the agent files, and the state of public security. According to Magyar, the government had nothing to do with the files, though he added that if he had seen Lezsák's name, he would have intervened, as he is aware of his activities before the regime change.
The Völner-Schadl affair was initiated due to corruption charges surrounding the court enforcement system, and has since been regarded as one of the most sensitive ongoing criminal cases in Hungary.
Source: 444